Wednesday, November 12, 2031

^4:1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. ²For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, ⁴that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, ⁵not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, ⁶that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

⁷For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. ⁸Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you. ⁹But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; ¹¹and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you, ¹²that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

^12:48but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked. ⁴⁹“I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! ⁵¹Do you think that I have come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.

⁵²For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” ⁵⁴He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. ⁵⁵When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time?

⁵⁷“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.”

^4:1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. ²For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, ⁴that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, ⁵not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, ⁶that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

⁷For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. ⁸Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you. ⁹But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; ¹¹and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you, ¹²that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

^11:42But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. ⁴³Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.” ⁴⁵One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying this you insult us also.” ⁴⁶He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.